Turn the page

August 27, 2012

When you turn the page, you will see our briefs and a soccer roundup that was supposed to be in Sunday's edition, and I am sure there were soccer players, coaches and others looking for those stories to read about the efforts.

Yet, about 3 a.m. Sunday, that fear hit me, the fear that I forgot to put something in the paper.

And, yes, I did and those were the forgotten ones.

It wasn't like I missed a two-footer to win a major championship, but it sure felt that way.

If you have ever watched a golf tournament and heard the crowd moan when a player misses that putt, that is exactly what I sounded like all by myself when I figured out my gigantic choke.

There are no excuses why it happened, just that it happened and I apologize to the coaches and players.

I?hate mistakes in this publication.

I am not OCD when it comes to mistakes because I know they are going to happen. I just really, really do not like it when they happen.

Whether you are 1-0 or 0-1, what just happened has zero bearing on what will happen, unless you allow it to happen.

An easy win or a tough loss means nothing as Friday or Saturday rolls around.

You can turn the page to what is in front of you or look behind and miss out.

For seniors, if you choose not to buy in, there is an underclassman ready to take your spot and you can sit your behind on the bench.

It's your choice.

It was a terrible sign to begin with and now the team is better.

But, then again, you also wonder why Seattle would sign him having a pretty good idea of what he is like.

At what point in time do the powers that be at these colleges start turning all the pages in the book?

And, in light of his recent problems, those character issues seem to be correct.

And, because of that fact, the Cowboys have instituted new rules for Bryant before they turn the page and send him to the unemployment line.

The new rules, according to Calvin Watkins of ESPNDallas.com are:?no drinking alcohol; he cannot attend any strip clubs and can only attend nightclubs if approved by the team; must have a security team with him; must attend counseling sessions twice a week; a rotating three-man security team will leave one man with Bryant at all times; members of the security team will drive Bryant to practices, games and team functions; a midnight curfew and if he's going to miss curfew, team officials must know in advance.

Is it really that hard to stay out of trouble?

Apparently so.

(Mathison, a Weirton resident, is the sports editor of the Herald-Star and The Weirton Daily Times and can be contacted at mmathison@heraldstaronline.com and can be followed on Twitter at @MathisonMike)